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Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Big questions heading into the 2018-19 Season

By Donny McHenry

EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Head Coach Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to the media after practice at UCLA Health Training Center on September 25, 2018 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Head Coach Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to the media after practice at UCLA Health Training Center on September 25, 2018 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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EL SEGUNDO, CA – SEPTEMBER 26: Rajon Rondo #9 JaVale McGee #7 and Lance Stephenson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on at practice at UCLA Health Training Center on September 25, 2018 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Rotational Battles Between Lakers’ Young Guys and Veterans

One of the first initial reactions to the LeBron James signing was that the young core of Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart was ready to be shipped out for better players who were already established in the league. This happened in LeBron’s arrival to Cleveland, as Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett were jettisoned for proven All-Star Kevin Love. LeBron needed help ASAP, as he was trying to bring a title to Cleveland early (it worked).

A trade for Kawhi Leonard was still in the picture at the time of LeBron’s signing, but it never happened, as Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka have seemingly bet on the young guys for this season at least.

The young guys are here for now, but will their minutes from last season be affected? Say what you will about the veterans brought in, but they’re still veterans and more than likely LeBron James was somewhat consulted on the guys they brought in. That means Rondo, Stephenson, Beasley, and McGee have had LeBron co-signs, which might factor in to Walton’s decision making when crafting lineups.

I would argue that the core of Ingram, Kuzma, Ball, and Hart have little to worry about in regards to playing time. McGee as a true center wouldn’t impact their minutes much, and I just don’t think you can make a valid argument from a basketball perspective that Beasley or Stephenson should severely cut into the minutes of Kuz, Ingram, and/or Hart. This question for the season, however, will definitely come into play regarding the rotations between Rondo and Lonzo.

Lonzo hasn’t been able to participate as much as his teammates so far in training camp and preseason, due to the prolonged recovery from his knee surgery early in the summer. Rondo seems set to start on opening night on Thursday, even though Lonzo did return for the team’s two final preseason games. That makes you wonder whether or not this is a case of caution regarding Lonzo’s knee, or Luke’s overall view regarding the dynamic of playing Rondo compared to Lonzo.

That’ll be a question that we receive answers for over time as more games are played. We will gain more clarity regarding all of the lineup rotations as the season goes on. Luke will need to try all sorts of lineups throughout the first few weeks to figure out what works and when it works. Either way, the playing time of the young guys compared to the veterans will be something to watch.

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